Football: Coach Bill Stewart Quotes
November 03, 2009 03:06 PM | General
By MSNsportsNET.com
November 3, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University football coach Bill Stewart quotes from Tuesday’s news conference.
Opening statements
We had a tough football game in Tampa. I was proud of the way our guys gave effort, but not pleased with the results by any means. That was a hard-hitting football game and both sides, from what I saw were, banged up. That is how you are supposed to play football in the BIG EAST.
That game is behind us and hopefully we learned something from it. We are in the final stretch of our season. Some teams have played nine, but we have play eight and have four left. This is when you find out how tough of a football team you have.
Our serious injuries are at the minimum. Sidney Glover is nicked up a little bit, but everyone else is ready to go. It was a hard-hitting game, and our players are sore but I am sure every football team in America is sore right now. Injury-wise, we are going to be in pretty good shape unless something unforeseen happens this week.
We have a tough opponent (Louisville) coming in here this week that has everything to gain and nothing to lose. Our backs are up against the wall much like our last opponents (USF) were last weekend in their home arena. We will just have to see how hard we play this Saturday against the Louisville Cardinals.
They are a dangerous outfit. I don’t know who we are going to see at quarterback or running back, but I really don’t care because I am focused on how the Mountaineers play.
On special teams changes
I may have a couple guys kickoff. There are reasons Josh Lider has kicked off for us, No. 1, he has done a good job. No. 2, it is very difficult to kick field goals, kickoff and punt. We had a young guy that did that last year (Pat McAfee) who went on to punt in the NFL. It is a very tough swing, and they are all three different. The reason Lider has been in charge of kickoffs is because I want to keep as much pressure off of Tyler Bitancurt and the fact that Josh has not done a bad job.
I don’t know who will kickoff this weekend. I will have to watch this week. They compete just like every other position, and I will decide on Saturday who I think had the best week.
On the coverage and the cornerbacks
I’m not pleased we gave up touchdown passes, but if I listened to every person in the country other than myself, Brandon Hogan wouldn’t be on the team because I would have thrown him under the bus last season after East Carolina.
Robert Sands played better. He had a good game and was picked by our staff as defensive played of the game, and it was well deserved. Robert needs to play and practice like that every day. Some sophomores do that, some wait until their senior year.
On B.J. Daniels
I saw a quarterback just like him but much better everyday in practice last year, the greatest winner in college football – Patrick White. But the comparison is very good. B.J. had a very fine night against us. He didn’t play that well in a couple of losses but in the Florida State film, he played very well. That means he is young, and he is going to get better. He will probably be a thorn in our side for the next three years.
On the defense
I will put in whoever practices the best this week. If he (Reed Williams) is healthy, he will play every snap. He is his own best doctor right now. I know when I had my shoulders knocked down and separated, you just have to play. You have to suck it up and that is what he has done. People have to understand, we are going to game nine. We hit hard, and it is a hard game. People get hurt.
On Louisville
I see a team that has a lot to gain and nothing to lose. I see a team that can make plays. I saw them beat a very good Southern Miss team that will beat some people this season. Louisville is a dangerous ball club coming here.
I think it was Dave (Wannstedt) that mentioned a trap game. When you are in the BIG EAST, they are all trap games. You let your guard down, then you are going to get beat. We didn’t let our guard down at USF; we got out played at a couple positions and got beat. That happens.
I think Louisville is going to come in here and play a heck of a football team. They better be ready, because I know we are.
On preparing for the game
It is hard to prepare for three people. However, if they are preparing for three people they really have a hard task. My formula is pretty sound. I have learned from some great coaches, and it has worked. It is what we do here. You cannot give equal practice time to the same position. If you did then you should play 50 percent of the time.
On Chris Neild
He is fine. He is a tough guy. On that short yardage play against USF, I saw him plant his feet and bow his back. Last thing I saw before he was covered up was the back of his head, because he bowed and would not break. I am a Chris Neild fan.
On Louisville’s quarterbacks
I am worried sick about their passing game. I don’t know if he (Doug Beaumont) is playing, but he can run and catch. Their receivers are skilled players. No. 3 Trent Guy and their special teams worry me to death. They catch ball and away they go. They are good, fast and they are still Louisville. If our players do not understand that, then shame on them, shamed on or staff and shame on me for not conveying that enough.
On getting the offense back on track
You just keep calling what you are calling. Our offense is a thing of beauty at times and at times it is not. When we are clicking, it is pretty.
On getting the team ready for the rest of the season
They trust me. I have great guys. When we had treatments – not one guy missed. They lifted, and they practiced. I don’t know if they like me, and I don’t really care. These are great guys. All you have to do is look them dead in the eye and tell them the truth. Tell them what is to be expected and then go to work.
All my life I have been in tough situations. You just jut your jaw, bow your back, you shut your mouth and go to play as hard as you can play. If you do that in life, be it in your daily walk, your job, your marriage or whatever phase of your life, you will be ok.
On barefoot kickers
If the ball goes through the up rights, then I don’t care what they wear.
